June 17, (THEWILL) – In a last-minute adjustment to their squad, Sierra Leone has announced a change ahead of their match against the Super Eagles on matchday five of the TotalEnergies 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Sierra Leone Football Association revealed on Saturday afternoon that Joseph Cleveland has been replaced by Lamin Conteh, just under 24 hours before the crucial clash. The decision to substitute Cleveland with Conteh comes as a result of an administrative issue involving Cleveland’s representatives. This complication has rendered him ineligible to participate in Sunday’s game.
Although Cleveland, who currently plays for Ports Authority in Sierra Leone, has yet to make an appearance for the senior national team, Conteh has been included in the matchday squad three times during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
John Keister’s team faces a pivotal challenge against Nigeria, where securing maximum points is essential to keep their hopes alive for qualification to Africa’s premier football tournament in 2024. Currently positioned third in Group A of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying table with five points, Sierra Leone must deliver a strong performance to boost their chances of advancing.
The penultimate match of the qualifiers awaits Jose Peseiro’s Super Eagles this Sunday. A victory for Nigeria in this crucial encounter would guarantee their place in the continental tournament, leaving them with one game to spare. The highly anticipated match is scheduled to commence at 5pm local time.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
